Dejan Lovren has revealed how Jurgen Klopp instilled in him the motivation to fight for his spot at Liverpool.

The Croatian defender endured a difficult debut season at Anfield after moving from Southampton for £20million in the summer of 2014 and was then used sporadically by Brendan Rodgers in the first few months of this campaign.

Since Klopp replaced Rodgers in October, the 26-year-old has shown the Reds faithful that he is slowly returning to the form that landed him a big-money transfer from the south coast and has attributed his improvement to the gentle helping hand from the German.

"I don't think you see that," he told the Daily Express. "You just see me.

"There is Dejan Lovren, walking around, £20m, he's unhappy, he's s***. Ok, but I never love to judge someone's real worth too early.

"If, for two years, someone was always s*** then I would say go. You are out of here. But if you are a good player, you always will be.

"I will not say Jurgen gave me the confidence, but he gave me like the push: 'Heh, you are a good player and here is your chance. Take it'.

"I took it. I am here still."